Pacific fails first big test in Big West

The Pacific women's volleyball team flunked its first big test in Big West Conference play without its senior setter.

The Record

The Pacific women's volleyball team flunked its first big test in Big West Conference play without its senior setter.

The Tigers entered the match at the Pyramid on Saturday in sole possession of second place, but were dominated by the host 49ers 25-16, 26-24, 25-18.

Long Beach State (10-9, 4-2) thrust itself back into the postseason chase by sweeping UC Davis and the Tigers (15-3, 3-2) this weekend. Hannah Clancy missed the match after tweaking her left knee in a win at UC Irvine on Friday.

Not much went right for the Tigers outside of the second game, which they led 24-21 before the 49ers closed the frame with five straight points.

Freshman opposite Kat Schulz had 12 kills and 10 digs, while junior middle blocker Jennifer Sanders had 10 kills on 31 swings as Pacific hit just .107. Freshman setter Kimmy Whitson played her first full match and finished with a career-high 36 assists, six digs, three blocks and two aces.

Long Beach State hit .204 as a team with junior outside hitter Delainey Aigner-Swesey leading a balanced attack with eight kills.

The Tigers will resume Big West play next weekend at Spanos Center, hosting Cal Poly at 7 p.m. Friday and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

At San Diego, the Pacific cross country team ran its final 6K event before the Big West Championships, but didn't finish among the top 13 schools.

Among individuals, freshman Lindsay Wourms was 31st with a time of 23 minutes, 38 seconds. Fellow freshman Becky Grabow finished in 71st with a time of 24:27. Pacific will be at the Bronco Invitational in Santa Clara on Saturday.

At Saratoga, the Mustangs beat Cabrillo 11-2 and DeAnza 18-4 in matches played at West Valley College. David Brock scored seven goals on the day, and goalkeeper Steve Barrington recorded a total of 23 saves for the Mustangs (11-7).